Women's Hospital at Saddleback Memorial to celebrate 25 years

The Women's Hospital at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in May will celebrate 25 years of delivering special miracles, having welcomed more than 60,000 babies since its opening. To commemorate this milestone, the hospital is encouraging local mothers, fathers, grandparents, uncles, aunts and godparents to share their unique experience on mysaddlebackbaby.com. Lake Forest mother Stacy Velarde delivered her baby Alisha at the hospital in 1992 and her baby Aubrey in January 2011. "Even though there were 18 years in between deliveries, I had wonderful memories from both births," she said.

On May 19, the hospital will launch a special community event to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Families can reunite their children with the physicians who brought them into the world and take a special photo. The event will run 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, 24451 Health Center Drive in Laguna Hills.

SWINGING FOR A CAUSE

The Laguna Hills-based Kids Konnected hopes to raise at least $20,000 during its 9th annual golf tournament on April 29. Planning for the event, which is at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano, is being overseen by Erin DeFries and board members Michael DeFries and Kyle Mason. Kids Konnected supports kids who have a parent with cancer. To sign up for the golf tournament, visit kidskonnected2013golf.eventbrite.com.

NEW OFFICERS

Now celebrating their 40th anniversary, the Elks' Ladies Club of Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge has installed its new officer corps and committee chairman. The club's mission is to financially support the Elks Lodge and its charities by running social events throughout the year. The motto of the incoming president Mary Ann Alvarez is "Touching Lives Forever through Charity." Installed officers include: auditor Jan Newberry, sergeant at arms Betty King, telephone chairperson Phyllis Booze of Laguna Hills. Lake Forest residents include: Vice President Irene Romero, membership chairperson Jinnae Wessling, ways and means chairperson Stephanie Bongartz, historian Georgine Pickering and Sunshine chairperson Gwen Williams.

HONORED VOLUNTEERS

Laura's House volunteers Mary Bentley and Jolee Hibbard were honored at the OneOC 2013 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards on April 19 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Bentley of Mission Viejo was honored as an outstanding community volunteer. During 10 years of volunteering at Laura's House, she has given her time to help out with the emergency shelter, corporate offices, 24-hour crisis hotline, landscaping, meal preparation and donating food, toys and clothing. Hibbard of Capistrano Beach has volunteered with Laura's House since January 2012. She has worked with the crisis hotline and the emergency shelter.

DONATION DRIVE FOR CHOC

The Coble Kids Foundation has launched an online Stella and Dot trunk show, where 100 percent of the commission will go to the foundation to purchase toys for the Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission Viejo. The annual fundraising drive is in memory of Ladera Ranch residents Chris and Lori Coble's three deceased children Kyle, Emma and Katie. The fundraiser is open until May 3. Visit the online show at stelladot.com/ts/cb8p5.

PROFESSORS OF THE YEAR

Saddleback College has named chemistry instructor Scott Fier, interior design and computer-aided design instructor Farida Gabdrakhmanova and Melinda Smith, a fashion instructor in the college's Emeritus Institute, as the 2013 Professors of the Year. The professors were nominated by their students and will be honored at the April 29 meeting of the South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees.

HONORED ELKS LODGE

The Mission Viejo City Council has recognized the Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge for its donation of $14,000 to purchase and train a K-9 dog for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Conan is the fifth trained K-9 dog donated by the Elks Lodge.

Past Exalted Rulers Harvey Boelts and Newt Seal, leaders of the Elks Lodge bingo operation which is the major source of its charitable funds, accepted the recognition on behalf of all Elks Lodge members.